Zurich, Switzerland— A construction crane collapsed at an industrial complex in Zurich on the morning of October 20, 2026, killing one worker and seriously injuring two others who were working on a concrete pour.
The accident happened at around 10:15 a.m. in the Altstetten industrial zone. The crane, a 60-meter tower unit, was lifting a load of rebar when its jib buckled and fell onto a partially built warehouse hall. Workers on the ground had little warning.
One man, a 39-year-old steelworker, was crushed under the jib and died at the scene. Two other workers, aged 27 and 44, were struck by falling debris. One suffered severe leg injuries. The other sustained head and chest trauma. Both were taken to the University Hospital Zurich.
Firefighters and the cantonal rescue service stabilized the collapsed structure before paramedics could enter. The site was immediately evacuated. A structural engineer was called to assess whether the remaining tower was at risk of further collapse.
"We heard a loud metallic crack, then the whole arm came down," a co-worker told Le Temps. "Dust was everywhere. We ran."
The labor inspectorate and Zurich cantonal police secured the site and seized maintenance logs, load charts, and the crane's black box recorder. The crane had been inspected in August and had passed its annual check, according to the operating company.
The company said the crane operator, who was uninjured, is an experienced operator with more than 15 years on tower cranes. He was taken for questioning and a routine drug and alcohol screening.
The public prosecutor has opened an investigation for negligent homicide and negligent bodily injury. The Suva accident insurance institute will conduct a parallel technical investigation.
The industrial complex remains closed while investigators examine welds and bolts on the jib.
Published by Banx Network. This article is part of the Banx decentralized media programme, powered by the BXE token on the XRP Ledger.
